KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The University of Northwestern Baseball team was 3-1 in the NCCAA National Tournament entering Tuesday afternoon's game against #2 Concordia (MI). The winner of the contest would advance to the NCCAA National Championship Game and the loser would see their season end. The Eagles and the Cardinals squared off for the second time in this tournament, and the Cardinals won 6-1 to eliminate the Eagles and to advance to the National Championship Game.
Owen Boerema (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) pitched two scoreless innings to start the contest and the game was tied 0-0 going into the third inning. The game was scheduled to take place at 9:30 A.M. and was postponed until noon because of heavy rain. When the game started, there was still a heavy rain falling, and the rain continued throughout the game which created challenging playing conditions.
The Cardinals were able to get some offense going in the third inning, despite only picking up one hit in the inning. An error and a walk put a couple of runners on base, and a passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Another walk loaded the bases. A groundball to
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) at second base would score the game's first run. The next batter would deliver the only hit of the inning, and RBI single to left field. The Cardinals led 3-0 after three innings.
The Cardinals would add to their lead in the sixth inning. Once again, it was not base hits that hurt the Eagles, but the walks and errors. Concordia scored a run when the Eagles tried to back pick a runner at first base. The throw sailed into right field and scored the runner from third base. The Cardinals would then score a run each on two separate wild pitches to take a 6-0 lead.
UNW would struggle to get any offense rolling against the Cardinals' starting pitcher. However, the Eagles lone run would come in the ninth inning.
Keegan Vercoe (Queen Creek, Ariz./Poston Butte) and
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) would draw walks before Vercoe would score off of a wild pitch. The Eagles lost 6-1.
Owen Boerema (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) pitched 5.2 innings and none of the runs that were scored against him were earned runs. The junior picked up eight strikeouts.
Brandon Welch (Rogers, Minn./Rogers) would pitch out of the bullpen and would throw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, picking up two strikeouts.
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) led the offense with two hits, while
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) also picked up a base knock.
The Eagles' season comes to an end with the loss. UNW finishes the year at 27-16 and won the UMAC Regular Season Championship by going to 17-4 in conference play. The Eagles won three games in the NCCAA National Tournament and were two wins away from winning the first national championship in program history. The Eagles will say goodbye to a fantastic senior class.
Keegan Vercoe (Queen Creek, Ariz./Poston Butte),
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin),
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton),
Sam Ludzack (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee), and
Brett Skrede (Viroqua, Wis./Viroqua) made up the 2022 senior class for the Eagles and have made a remarkable impact on UNW Baseball on and off the field.
